Morrowind Alchemy Mechanics & Formula Guide

The Morrowind Alchemy Calculator works out potions with the brewing rules from the OpenMW 0.51.0 engine source (mwmechanics). Combine up to four ingredients from Morrowind, Tribunal, Bloodmoon, Tamriel Rebuilt 26.08 (Poison Song), and ARCE to calculate potion effects, magnitude, duration, gold value, and brewing success probability.

Apparatus Roles & Modifiers

Alchemy requires a Mortar and Pestle at minimum, with three optional apparatus types to refine the brew:

• Mortar and Pestle: Essential apparatus that establishes base potion potency and effect duration. Available in Apprentice (0.5×), Journeyman (1.0×), Master (1.25×), and Grandmaster (1.5×) quality.
• Alembic: Reduces the magnitude and duration of negative side-effects (harmful effects) in positive potions.
• Calcinator: Magnifies the magnitude and duration of both positive and negative effects, increasing overall potion potency.
• Retort: Magnifies the magnitude and duration of positive effects, boosting the beneficial properties of the brew.

Brewing Success Probability Formula

In OpenMW and Morrowind, potion brewing success chance is calculated using the formula: ⌊Alchemy Skill + 0.1 × Intelligence + 0.1 × Luck⌋%. Unlike spellcasting or physical combat, fatigue does not modify the brewing chance in engine mechanics. Potion magnitude and duration scale formulaically with character Alchemy skill and Mortar quality.